As a MCBS I work with JLUSA’s dynamic Leadership team to build grassroots political power in marginalized communities most impacted by systemic oppression. I am responsible for Developing and delivering EL/LwC trainings, review curriculum and other training materials in collaboration with Leadership. I serve as a key representative of the organization in engaging with other groups, organizations, or stakeholders across their assigned region. I also assist trained Leaders with the development of an actionable and measurable campaignstrategy to achieve, needed policy reforms through Executive, Legislative, or othermechanisms; I also assist leaders and organizations with the promoting strategies and goals which reduce racial disparities and promote racial justice.

#WORKINGfuture Campaign

AMEN 4 Youth is an Education Consulting Firm that provides Literacy and academic Curriculum through the highly innovative and engaging ELA HipHop Based Spoken Word pedagogy called S.L.A.M. (Spoken Lyrics with an Academic Mission). AMEN also provides Training for teachers and program facilitators, in how to raise the achievement gap, to effectively engage struggling Students, and how to identify Students with ACE scores in order to provide Healing Centered solutions as an Alternative to school discipline. AMEN also offers programming for youth in Juvenile centers and Training for Detention staff in Restorative Practices and Healing Centered Engagement.

S.L.A.M. is a new English Language Arts curriculum and workbook series based on my innovative methods of teaching lyrics, rhyme and poetry called L.I.P.P. (Lyrical-writing In Performance Poetry) which are presented in my book S.L.A.M. (Spoken Lyrics with an Academic Mission), which contains 10 lessons in writing skills, poetry, lyrics, vocabulary building, speech foundations, oratry, and essay writing. This curriculum is fused with my academic-mentoring program and together it is called SLAM Lyrical Education. S.L.A.M. was published as a workbook in April 2013. A second workbook titled Lyrical Education was published in June 2014 and four workbooks for grades 4-12 have since been completed.

The Journal is a quarterly magazine that highlights the life and work of emerging stage poets, lyricists, and Neo Soul artists across the country, but particularly in the Detroit and surrounding Midwestern states. The Journal now also publishes the monthly newsletter Lyrical Education.

STARS is an intense Reintegration mentor program offered to At-Risk youth primarily in secure juvenile facilities.STARS is based on my motivational message drawn from my personal life story of having been wrongly convicted of 1st degree murder and having spent 15 years fighting for my freedom, which I finally won in 2006. Thru STARS, I show youth what transformative steps I took while incarcerated to prepare my life for reintegration upon release. As a motivational speaker, I use a very intense and direct technique to alert, educate and inspire youth with a burning passion to change their brhavior, thinking patterns and realize what gifts they possess. STARS uses my semi-biography, which contains chapters from my life story of having been raised in the 80s crack era of Detroit, Lansing and Jackson, all areas hardest affected by the after effects of a drug culture breeding violence and addiction. This is then followed by my profile of accomplishments, education, and published books while incarcerated. It concludes with a 3 Step plan for youth to follow to complete while incarcerated that will prepare them for a successful reintegration upon release.STARS was contracted thru AMEN 4 Youth by the MJDA (Michigan Juvenile Detention Association) the summer of 2013 to service 15 county facilities in the State of Michigan.

Dream Team Entertainment is a movement in the Cultural Arts of Spoken Word, Hip Hop and Publishing, introducing these elements to youth with an Educational objective: UNITED WE STANDThrough DTE, I record professionally using ProTools LE8, market those recordings on Youtube, Reverbnation, Facebook, and Twitter. I am considered a Spoken Word artist with Lyrical flow and my recordings are purely based on my message of empowerment and education to youth and the hip hop generation. I am the winner of the 2012 Spokenword Billboard award, The Top Hot 100 Ranking Artist of the Year. My songs are fused with Jazz, R&B, Hip Hop and Neo Soul. I have toured the country twice performing for diverse audiences, in such cities as Atlanta, Dallas, Memphis, St. Louis, Toledo, Cleveland, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Gary, Milwaukee, and Washington DC.

The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission was created by PA 93 of 2013, signed into law by Governor Snyder in July of 2013. The Commission is housed within the judicial branch of state government and is comprised of 15 members appointed by the Governor with recommendations from the Legislature, Supreme Court, and the State Bar, and representing interests from the criminal justice system. The Chief Justice or a designee serves as an ex-officio non-voting member. Commission members serve four-year terms.The Commission is charged with the following:>Collecting and compiling data necessary for the review of indigent defense services in Michigan.>Creating standards to ensure all systems providing indigent defense meet constitutional obligations for effective assistance of counsel.>Submitting for approval any new standards to the Michigan Supreme Court, creating an added layer of review.>Developing requirements by which a person may establish a claim of indigence so those truly in need of a public defender will have access to one.>Working with counties to implement plans to meet the standards.Having this distinctive opportunity to serve in this capacity demonstrates the clearest value of why Glenn E. Martin founded JustLeadershipUSA, as those closest to the problem are those closest to the solution, but furthest from power and resources. This Appointment not only seats me at the table with policy and decision makers, but empowers the voice of formerly incarcerated persons to be heard at those tables previously off limits to those directly impacted by the Criminal Justice System. We are building a #WORKINGfuture that will support our efforts to reduce the nationwide prison population in #HalfBy2030. https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499-497494--,00.html

Providing supportive Housing advocacy to residents in Jackson by assisting them in maintaining stability and permanent Housing.

I facilitate a Youth Action Michigan Chapter at TA Wilson Academy where young men and women in high school meet weekly to address the concerns, issues and ideas of their peers to formulate plans to address, redress or solve the problems they face, with the goal of providing greater opportunities to succeed for their fellow peers academically, socially and culturally.

Mentor outreach service

Manager